Document 35 P 19
| 73 | ||||
| equal depth from side to side the shallow part becoming deeper and even | ||||
| the deeper parts by the depositing Gravel had become shallower and every | ||||
| flood that happened after occasioned reports of the same kind till the last | ||||
| In this manner and with these Ideas everything was satisfactorily finished | ||||
| and the Rubbling according to Mr Smeaton’s directions at or about Christmas | ||||
| One thousand seven hundred and eighty and in the beginning of January One | ||||
| thousand seven hundred eighty one Mr Smeaton viewed the whole in | ||||
| the presence of the Magistrates of the County who attended for that | ||||
| purpose and found everything done to his great satisfaction as well as | ||||
| theirs and as such reported it to the County as being completed accord- | ||||
| -ing to Mr Erringtons Agreement. | ||||
| After all succeeding floods every Account was of the most flattering | ||||
| kind so that previous to the last Flood every person concerned therein or | ||||
| therewith seemed perfectly easy with the Security of Hexham Bridge. | ||||
| On Sunday evening the tenth of March one thousand seven hundred | ||||
| and eighty two there fell in that County a great downfall of Snow so great as | ||||
| to be a foot thick upon the plain Ground which was immediately succeeded | ||||
| by a violent heavy rain and as the nature of snow is to drink up the rain | ||||
| like a sponge till it becomes perfectly saturated with water it then bursts | ||||
| altogether like a snow ball in the Fire and may be fitly compared to an | ||||
| immense Reservoir extending over the whole Country Broke loose altogether | ||||
| the | ||||
| and as ⁁ hills and whole face of this Country is steep comparatively like the | ||||
| Roof of an House it is capable of coming down very suddenly and meeting | ||||
| altogether by the Junction of the two Tynes a little above Hexham without | ||||
| having any considerable flat Ground to spread itself upon the next Morning | ||||
| (vizt) Monday March Eleventh Mr Donkin perceiving an Extraordinary high | ||||
| flood in the River (which runs from West to East) this attended with a very | ||||
| high Westerly wind led him down to the Bridge to observe the Effects of the | ||||
| water upon it but without the least supposition of any Damage happening | ||||
| 19 thereto | ||||
Note: Mr Smeaton's Memorial P 19
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| An entry outlined like this has a note which may be seen by hovering over it. |
Transcribed by CTW and KS